Sherman to consider agreement for 1417 ramp reversal

Saturday

Dec 2, 2017 at 12:01 AMDec 2, 2017 at 11:51 AM

By William C. Wadsack, Herald Democrat

Sherman will consider the next step in the planned reversal of the northbound U.S. Highway 75 entrance and exit ramps immediately south of FM 1417 during its regular meeting Monday at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 220 W. Mulberry St.

Two weeks after the Sherman City Council unanimously approved the execution of a professional services agreement with H.W. Lochner Inc. for engineering design work for the reversal of the two ramps, the council will consider the execution of an advance funding agreement Monday with the Texas Department of Transportation for the work.

With commercial developments planned for the northwest and southeast corners of the intersection of Hwy. 75 and FM 1417, city staff said the current design of the entrance and exit ramps would be an impediment to the success of those developments. The existing northbound ramps also do not meet current Texas Department of Transportation standards.

In October, Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille announced plans to open an entertainment complex as part of a planned full development of the 22-acre tract of land on the southeast corner of Hwy. 75 and FM 1417. Sherman Crossroads Ltd. is planning a mixed-use development of commercial and retail offerings it expects will complement the Emergency Center of North Texas free-standing emergency department currently being constructed on the northwest corner of the Hwy. 75-FM 1417 intersection.

The advance funding agreement to be considered by the council calls for the city to pay TxDOT $2 million, which is the estimated cost for the project. The agreement also states that’s not necessarily the final payment, as local participation will be based on the actual costs of the project.

Director of Engineering Clint Philpott said the city and the Sherman Economic Development Corp. will share in the funding of the project, while TxDOT will oversee the construction.

City Manager Robby Hefton explained the work will likely take about 12 months if TxDOT decides to reverse the ramps back-to-back, but the development at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy. 75 and FM 1417 may delay things.

“If they have to delay one, then the duration of it may be more than 12 months, but we’ll know that when we get there,” Hefton said.

The council will also hold a public hearing on an ordinance to create a seventh Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone in the city. The planned TIRZ would be located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy. 75 and FM 1417 where Schulman’s announced its development. Later in the meeting, the council will consider appointments to the TIRZ No. 7 board.

Public hearings will also be held on the abandonment of a street right of way between the 39 and 40 blocks of the city’s South Side Addition replat, and four amendments to the city charter that were approved by Sherman voters last month.

Appointments to the Main Street Advisory Board will also be considered by the council.

Near the end of the meeting, the council will go into a closed, executive session to consult with the city attorney on pending litigation, personnel matters and economic development negotiations. The council will reconvene into open session to take any actions deemed necessary on executive session items.